Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Oregon And Hawaii Grasp At Strict Measures To Stem Covid Case Floods
The New York Times: Covid-19 Surge In Oregon: State Returns To Strict Mandates
Facing a 990 percent increase in coronavirus hospitalizations since July 9, Oregon leaders have deployed the National Guard to hospitals, dispatched crisis teams to the hardest-hit regions of the state and ordered educators and health care workers to get vaccinated or lose their jobs. Now, in her latest mandate that will take effect on Friday, Gov. Kate Brown has gone beyond what any other state has done in battling the summer surge, requiring that both vaccinated and unvaccinated people wear masks when gathering closely in public, even when outdoors. She said more restrictions might be needed as the coming days unfold and the state tries to keep in-person schooling on track. (Olmos and Baker, 8/26)
The Oregonian: Oregon On Track For Nearly 1,200 COVID Hospitalizations, Up From Previous OHSU Projection
Following another week of historic highs in Oregon for COVID-19 cases, forecasted numbers for COVID-19 hospitalizations -- and when they will peak -- have gotten incrementally worse. Peter Graven, an Oregon Health and Science University researcher who has been modeling expected coronavirus hospitalization numbers on a weekly basis since the beginning of the pandemic, says he expects that number will peak early next month – Sept. 6 – at about 1,197. (Forrest, 8/26)
CBS News: Oregon Hospital Packed With COVID Patients As Cases Surge: "I've Never Seen So Much Death In My Career"
"Every day we see just the body boxes roll out one after the other and then as soon as we clean the room we get somebody back in there... It's the worst we've ever seen." That's what ICU nurse Clarissa Carson told CBS News' Janet Shamlian Wednesday at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, Oregon, where COVID-19 patients have filled the hospital. Shamlian reported constant turnover in the hospital's intensive care unit, but not because patients are getting better. (8/26)
Hawaii is also struggling —
AP: COVID-19 Surge Pummels Hawaii And Its Native Population
Kuulei Perreira-Keawekane could barely breathe when she went to a Hawaii emergency room. Nausea made it difficult for her to stand and her body throbbed with pain. Like many Native Hawaiians, she was not vaccinated against COVID-19.Perreira-Keawekane’s situation highlights the COVID-19 crisis that is gripping Hawaii as hospitals are overflowing with a record number of patients, vaccinations are stagnating and Hawaiians are experiencing a disproportionate share of the suffering. (Kelleher, 8/27)
The Wall Street Journal: Hawaii Wants Tourists To Postpone Their Trips, But Many Aren’t Yet
Travel agents say they have been inundated with questions from would-be vacationers about how to approach their trips. Bruce Fisher, owner of Hawaii Aloha Travel in Honolulu, has seen a small number of cancellations at his agency since the governor’s announcement. But he says he hasn’t noticed a mass rush to call off trips just yet. “It all depends on what additional restrictions are going to come down,” he says. “If they decide to close beaches and parks, that’s going to be even more of a game-changer.” Earlier in August, the state limited indoor capacity in bars, restaurants and gyms to 50%. Starting this week, all large gatherings on Oahu were limited to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. (Pohle, 8/26)
AP: Hawaii Leaders Want Official Fired For COVID Drug Remarks
State legislative leaders have called on Hawaii’s governor to fire the Maui district health officer for promoting the use of drugs to treat COVID-19 that haven’t been approved for this use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sen. Roz Baker, a Democrat who represents south and west Maui, said Dr. Lorrin Pang was potentially harming the lives of Hawaii’s most vulnerable citizens because people will be inclined to believe him because of his position. (McAvoy, 8/27)
In related news about air travel —
CBS News: TSA Sees Lowest Air Travel Numbers Since May
Travelers are canceling flights amid the summer surge in COVID-19 cases. The Transportation Security Administration reported its lowest air travel numbers of the summer on Tuesday and Wednesday after hitting its highest traffic of the year at the beginning of August. More than 1.4 million people went through TSA checkpoints Tuesday and 1.5 million on Wednesday, the agency reported. It's a large decrease from the 2.2 million reported in early August. (Barnett, 8/26)
